The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 37 competing songs in Eurovision 2025. Next we review Denmark, who have chosen Sissal with “Hallucination”.
Is our love for Sissal the truth or an illusion? Read on to find out!
Sissal – “Hallucination” (Denmark Eurovision 2025)
Review: Sissal – “Hallucination”
Simon: I am of course biased about my home country, especially in a year where we are finally sending something we haven’t done in years: A strong vocalist. Sissal carries a song that might lean a little bit too much towards the Euphoria/Tattoo kind of sound, but she is so fierce live that her delivery makes up for any weakness the song itself might have. The last chorus is where the audience will be bedazzled by her energy and power. So if the staging lives up to the expectations she has given herself, we could be in for Denmark’s first qualification to the grand final since 2019. Maybe even a left-side finish on the scoreboard in the final!
Score: 8.5
Ruxandra: Sissal definitely delivers with her vocals, that’s for sure, and she deserves every single point for that. However, when it comes to the song, I find it a bit predictable. You can anticipate when the rhythm will change, when a high note is coming, and when the climax will hit. That doesn’t mean Sissal doesn’t execute it flawlessly on stage, though… Speaking of which, I have high hopes that the show will be elevated from the national selection, whether by adding something more dynamic or allowing her to be alone on stage. The staging felt a bit incomplete.
Score: 5.5
Tomas: Who ordered a bop? We shall accept this gift from Sissal! I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for Denmark to finally make a wonderful comeback to the Eurovision final. This is an amazing example of a great Eurovision pop song. Sissal serves outstanding vocals and I’m excited to see the updated performance in Basel. However, I truly have to point out the clear power of Sissal’s charisma and how this song wouldn’t be as appealing as it is now if it was performed by anyone else. Sissal, Eurovision loves you!
Score: 9
Antranig: I like Denmark and I love Sissal as a performer. She is captivating, and a clear vocal powerhouse. The problem is that there are some truly top tier female pop songs in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2025, and “Hallucination” is not one of them, so it’s hard to see a path forward. The song is enjoyable enough, but at some point throughout the three minutes it becomes very repetitive and drags on with the same theme for too long. Is there enough pop love around Europe to extend to Sissal? I hope so, but I’m sceptical.
Score: 5
Denmark Eurovision 2025 ranking
In the Eurovision 2025 Wiwi Jury, we have 17 jurors but only have room for four reviews. The remaining scores are below:
|
Andreas: 10 Bernardo: 6.5 Burak: 7 Cinan: 8 Deban: 7.5 Jonathan: 9 Jordi: 7.5 |
Lucy: 8 Pablo: 8 Scarlett: 4 Suzanne: 3 Tom: 8 William: 7.5 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a high of 10 and a low of 3.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 7.27/10
What do you think of Denmark’s Eurovision 2025 entry? Share your own score and review for Sissal’s “Hallucination” below!
This is pretty Nordic over produced pop but Sissal makes it work somehow. Her vocals and stage presence are everything. I hope the staging helps her and we get to see her in the Grand Final.
awful song and styling .
I think this is one of the most underrated song this year. It may not be groundbraking but it is really enjoyable and I can see it getting easy votes. Vocals are on point. With good staging and outfit, I can see this song shine more than expected. I see it in the top 15 for sure, maybe it can reach the top 10.
manifesting this
Denmark 3,5/12
The song isn’t groundbreaking, but there’s something special about it that I can’t put my finger on. I wouldn’t be surprised if this lands top 10 in Basel. In fact, I’m hoping it places even higher.
Easy qualifier 🙂 Sissal is super charismatic and her voice is her unique selling point. I have no doubts. Welcome back to the final Denmark!
whilst lyrically it’s repetitive, and doesn’t reinvent the wheel – i have found myself singing this in my daily life CONSTANTLY!! the song is catchy and i hope it does goes denmark there first qualification of the 20s. 6/10 for me
DENMARK – They countinue their love story with safe pop songs. Hallucination fits the bill of ”a Danish entry” by being firmly in their comfort zone. It feels just a bit more retro and a bit more vibey than their usual recent entries, but the core of not taking a risk is still there. As it was with Breaking My Heart and Sand, there is one main hook throughout the song, and it consistently repeats to make it memorable. And to its credit, it does. The rest of the song, however, isn’t necessarily the most instant. It goes around the… Read more »
I like her she‘s a cool person, I hope she qualifies.
Sadly the kind of song I skip – predictable and bland stuff!
She had a bop, a bodysuit and a dream
Tbh, for me there was a clear winner based on originality, interpretation and meaning, and that was Adel The Second. Instead, Denmark decided to go for the 11th piece of average bland pop, that might take them to the final to place bottom 5. That’s tradition I guess.
1. Poland (6.5)
2. Ukraine (6.25)
3. Denmark (6)
4. Israel (4)
Here are some of my notes on this one (edited down)… “Hallucination” is a simple dance track done really well. Four chords are used pretty much throughout the song, except for the Bridge. The electro patterns at the start are really lovely and suitably subtle, enhancing the power of Sissal’s deep voice right at the start of the song. She sings some bottom E notes, so that’s impressive. The Pre-Chorus is where a soft beat starts and a slow build-up begins. The melody rises when Sissal sings “maybe I’m losing control”. We then burst into a soft Chorus-preview with a… Read more »
10/10 Absolutely love it. Great vocals, very catchy, high impact, radio friendly. Just perfect !!
Does it reinvent the wheel? No, but it is a fun ride. Plus, Sissal might be the most likeable personality of the lot. I really hope she has a blast.
This a 7,2 and Ukraine’s Bird of Pray a 5,9?
Wiwibloggs is passé with their attitude, taste and ratings. When you watch Wiwi’s interviews in London, they look quite fake and forced.
Sissal has a good voice but the generic song.
Ukraine, Poland and Israel all three have a more interesting music composition and are more unique and personal.
I guess Wiwi likes it simple and slay girl.
Ukraine is pretty dated and the chorus is pretty bad “Flyyyy….byeee… I’m begin you..” it’s just annoying pacing for a song
Hallucination is a fantastic upbeat song with incredible vocals
Denmark might deserve a 7, it’s better than many others this year, but the other three reviewed so far are more unique and personal and higher than a 7.
I mean yes Denmark is def better than Ukraine this year
Ukraine’s worst entry. The song get what it deserves.
Denmark – It seems that Denmark are going in the right direction, but this song isn’t really one I regularly come back to as I find it rather repetitive, much like last year’s. Sissal clearly has great energy and I hope that things will improve during the shows. 5/10
We can tell that the songwriter (s) set out to ‘do a Tattoo’.
Overrated! great voice, basic song, 0 staging. This is a 5, thank u.
Well, we don’t know about the staging just yet. I imagine they’ll have her lying on a box with a lid which is slowly raised.
So far we know this about the staging:
– 4 dancers
– New costume and outfit change during the song. Starts in black/white and will be changed to royal blue
– A large piece of fabric will be placed around and behind Sissal. It can change color along the way
– In addition, there is an additional surprise that has not been revealed yet
do you mean overrated here or in general? because I don’t really see a lot of hype in general for this song 🙁
Overrated! great voice, basic song, 0 stagging. This is a 5, thank u.
Overrated! gret voice, basic song, 0 stagging. This is a 5, thank u.
Not my cup of tea, it is my last place.
Great vocal wasted on sucha generic and boring song. I have a hard time getting to the end of it.
I do enjoy listening to this song. It’s definitely fun and Sissals outstanding vocals make it quite easy on the ears. I do find it quite uninspiring tho lol like not bland but it doesn’t exactly excite me. I finish the song feeling relatively indifferent. I’m not a fan of the melody in the verses it feels extremely generic but i like it in the chorus. And the synths give it a good impact. The climax is very effective. 6.5/10
This is a lovely popsong. We’ve heard it before, however Sissals vocal tone makes it special
7.5/10
This year is probably the year in a long time where I’m most excited about whether we’ll advance or not. We HAVE to make it to the final! Like there is no doubt here,
High ratings for a generic, repetitive song
Honestly I like this song but isn’t it a little bit over-hyped by some? For me it’s Denmark’s version of Iceland 2024, same very good vocals, same likeable singer, same generic pop song and yet that song was thrown away while this one is well too much praised maybe?
Ah, Denmark. Finally, after four years, we could see you back in the final. Sissal really sells what is on the surface—an okay song. I really enjoy her energy on stage and off stage.
31st place: Denmark: Honestly, there aren’t many bad things I can say about this one, but also not many good things. The song is an old-fashioned and generic dance entry that never was my style to begin with, but even if it were this one would ultimately seem weak to me. Also the staging must change imo, if they want qualifying chances. I think the Wiwi score here is greatly exaggerated.
Everything about the staging will be changed. It’s confirmed
I have been filtered, but my review for Denmark is pretty much similar to yours.
Glad to hear that! Also read your review regarding Ukraine. Even if you don’t like it as much as I do, I find it really spot on and it captures the feel of the song greatly!
Thank you. I like Ukraine. I can understand it being in your top 5. It’s a quality entry. So far, it dances around my 15th place, but unlike a lot of people, I do think this year is actually quite good, so my top 20-something are songs I like.
As of now I am actually keen to think that this is a mediocre year. Certainly not as bad as almost everyone claims but also not as great as 2018, 2019, 2021 or 2022 which are among my recent faves
No way is this better than Poland or Israel. I’m talking the song not the performer. All i hear is Lucy Nation whoever she is!
Denmark 7.27 , Poland 6.97. Hahaha
I love the Song, and Sisal is owning the stage and her vocals flawless, always on point. Pure positive energy. I need this song in the final.
Think this is an easy qualifier that fades into the back after opening the grand final.
Wiwi Jury rankings
I love this one since the beginning! I wish so badly to see Sissal qualifying!!
2. Denmark – Sissal – Hallucination 10/10 – this is what a dance track should be all about. The musical production and lyrical quality hit perfectly. The build in the song is excellent as it reaches its fulfilling crescendo. There is a bittersweet reality to the lyrics which strikes really deep – the sadness in the recognition our flaws and historic difficulties, merged with the fragility in the elation and hope for future love, these are the beautiful messages we tell ourselves and the music matches the mood fantastically. Let’s also not undersell what an exceptional performer Sissal is. So… Read more »
“Lyrical quality” lol are you being sarcastic? She just sings the same thing over and over
A lot of people are resonating with the song so they must have got something right
7.27 for this generic rehash with its boring predictable hook, same exact score as Zari which was easily one of the most creatively put together entries we’ve had in Eurovision, you do you wiwi
Pretty good and fun, but it would be at home if this was a couple of years ago
7.9/10
Yeah, I kind of feel like this might be competing a few years too late.
Kind of like “Sand”, come to think of it.
It’s not a bad entry, just extremely mediocre and repetitive. Sissal certainly makes the most of it. And the wind machine. With a better song, she could have been be one of the best. I love her vibrant energy, the song however… meh.
your reviews are all spot on so far
Thank you 🙂